noun
domestic pigeon; feral pigeon
Refers to pigeons that live in urban areas, descended from domesticated rock doves. Often seen as city birds.
公園にはたくさんのドバトがいる。
There are many pigeons in the park.
ドバトに餌をあげないでください。
Please do not feed the pigeons.
Rare single-kanji form. Not commonly encountered.
鳩 is the general word for 'pigeon' or 'dove'. ドバト specifically refers to the common city pigeon (feral/domestic pigeon).
Compound of 土 (do, 'earth') and 鳩 (hato, 'pigeon'), literally 'earth pigeon', referring to its habit of foraging on the ground. The katakana spelling ドバト is standard.